Exploding shell.



H. MAYBE. EXPLODING SHELL. vAPPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1909.l

Patented May 12, 1914.

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"UNITED STATES PATENT oEFioE.

HEINRICE MAYEaloE DUssELDonE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR To' EHEINIsoHEitrE'rALL- WAAEEN- UND \MASCHINENEABEIK, or DirssELDoRE-DEEENDOEE,GERMANY, A

CORPORATION 0F' GERMAY.

ExPLonING SHELL.

Patented May 12, 1 914,

` Application `filed November 22, 1.90%?. Se'rial No. 5295343.

To all whoml 'it may concern Be it known that I, HEINRICH MAYER,engineer, a subject'of the German'Einperor, residing at 15Frankenstrasse, Dusseldorf, Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Exploding Shells, of which the following is `aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in exploding shells, and moreparticularly to that class of shells in which a bombshell is provided infront of a shell containing a shrapnel charge and in which, in case of ashrapnel shot, the bomb shell is thrown from the shrapnel shell togetherwith the bullets. In shells of this class as heretofore constructed thebomb shell is screwed to the body of the shrapnel shell, in a similarway as 1n ordinary shells'v the head is usually screwed to the p body.If the shrapnel charge of such shells is-caused to explode, the screwthreaded joint between the bomb Vshell and the body of the shell isnot'always uniformly broken, the said connection sometimes breakingfirst at one side, and in such cases the ombshell turns over andexplodes prematurely, if itv explodes at all. Furthermore, in most casesthe vhead or grenade of such av shell is deflected from the propertrajectory in such al manner-as to miss the target and yalso to break upthe cone of dispersion of the shrapnel shot.

The object of this invention is to provide a shell of this class vinwhich the bombshell isl uniformly torn from the shrapnel shell allaround its circumference, so that it does notturn over. And for thispurpose the bombshell is not positively secured to the shrapnel shell,as by a screw-joint, but it is in frictional engagement therewith.

For the purpose of explaining the invention an example embodying thesame has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the.shell is shown in vertical cross-section.

As shown in the shrapnel shell which is filled with bullets b. In frontof the latter the bombshell Z made of thick walls is located which isfilled" with the bomb charge c. To the bomb shell a fuse e is screwedwhich contains two igniting charges, one of which may ignite the bombcharge while the other fires the central train shown in the drawing,'thereby igniting the shrapnel charge'. A suitable contact fuse may alsobe arranged at the point ysaid drawing,l a is theI ofthe'shellfori'igniting` the bomb or grenade charge.

At its rear end tlie`bombslhll0l is made with a reduced cylindricalportion of a smooth surface the diameter of which is slightly largerthan that of the correspond ing bore of the shrapnel shell a, and thebombshell is forced'into the shrapnel shell under higlr pressure. Byproperly choosing the difference of the diameters of the reduced portionofthe bombshell and of the bore of the shrapnel shell, and the length ofthe said reduced portion, theconnection between both parts is made ofthe desired rigidity.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is'to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is. y

l. In a shell, the combination, with a body containing a shrapnel chargeand a shrapnel filling, of a head containing a bomb charge, said headhavino a neck portion held in and to the body by lfriction only, aContact fuse for igniting the bombcharge, and a fuse comprising atrainfor igniting the shrapnel charge.

2. In a shell, the combination, with a bodyv containing a shrapnelcharge and a shrapnel filling, said body having a smooth cylindricalopen front end, of a head having a bomb charge, said head having areduced neck portion fitting tightly int-o the said front end of thebody, said head being held to the body by friction only, a contact fusearrangedto ignite the bomb charge, and a fuse comprising a trainarranged to ignite the shrapnel charge'.

3. In a shell, the combination, with a body i having an interiorlysmooth cylindrical open lfront end, and a head containing a bomb charge,said head having a smooth neck portion tting tightly into the open frontend of the body andhe-ld to the body by friction only, of a plurality ofshrapnel balls con,- tained within said body and back vof the head, ashrapnel charge carried by said body, a Contact fuse arranged, at thepoint of the shell to ignite the bomb charge, and a fuse comprisinga'train arranged to ignite the shrapnel charge.

4. Ina shell, a body having a smooth cylindrical interior open at itsfront end, said Ibody also having an integral closed base, in

combination with a head containing abomb I charge, said head having asmooth neck porarranged t0 ignite' the bomb charge, and a fusecomprising a. train arranged to ignite the shrapnel charge.

In testimony whereof I have signedy my 15 name to this specication inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

` HEINRICH MAYER. [La] tion fitting tightly into the-open front end ofthe body, said head being held to the body by friction on1y,.theexterior surface of the head at the point of union with theV body beingHush with the exterior surface of said body, a plurality of shrapnelballs arranged within said body and back of said heag'La shrapnel chargecarried by said body Witnesses: atthe rear of said shrapnel balls, acontact CHAs. J. 'WRIGHT7 fuse arranged at the point of the shell andO'I'ro KNIG.

